WCBS FM101.1 - History of Rock: The 50's, Part 1

by Various Artists

Compiled For WCBS FM101.1 (series)

Unknown Contributor Role: Louie Lymon & the Teenchords.

History of Rock: The 50s, Pt. 1 focuses mainly on doo wop and artists influenced by that pervasive '50s sound. Among the 24 tracks are quite a few classics like the Spaniels' "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight," Dion & the Belmonts' "A Teenager in Love," the Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night," and the Dells' "Oh, What a Night" as well as some worthy obscurities like the Videos' "Trickle, Trickle," the Kodaks' "Oh Gee, Oh Gosh," and the Channels' "The Closer You Are." For variety's sake, a couple of non-doo wop tracks like the Champs' "Tequila" and Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley" are thrown in. The collection plays like an hour or so of really fun and diverse '50s oldies radio, something that is getting harder to the point of impossibility to find on your radio dial anymore. The only thing that makes the disc less than ideal is having two songs by the Five Satins. Even though these are fine songs, it would seem to make more sense to add one more group. That is a minor point, however, and shouldn't keep anyone from picking up this entertaining disc. ~ Tim Sendra